Anderton
Why not just send an output back into an interface input? You'll need to nudge the track before mixing to compensate for any extra latency, but it lets you record the audio. As a bonus you can patch weird little non-MIDI effects (like stompboxes) in between the output and input and tweak those knobs, too.

Hi Craig. Yep. That's EXACTLY what I do now. Luckily, because I use SCOPE, there is no DA/AD conversion involved. It's Softsynth-to-SCOPE DSP via ADAT (where I can add effects, "mash" things up, etc.) - back to Sonar via ADAT. Not necessarily ideal. It works, but direct real time recording of VST/VSTi output would be a superb option!


 

mudgel
It's not hard to do, that is to record your VSTi in real time, you just have to be prepared to deal with the issues that it brings up. Send your monitor source out of your audio device and loop it back onto another track making sure that that track is out of your monitor path. Voila, you have a live recoding of your performance. If you are going to add further material you'll have to nudge the recorded VSTi audio tracks.

I think you beat Craig to the draw with that one...  I'm stuck in the middle.

 

Earwax
 but direct real time recording of VST/VSTi output would be a superb option!


 

as "members"... maybe we can hope.  That would be great.

mixmkr

Anderton
Why not just send an output back into an interface input? You'll need to nudge the track before mixing to compensate for any extra latency, but it lets you record the audio. As a bonus you can patch weird little non-MIDI effects (like stompboxes) in between the output and input and tweak those knobs, too.

For sure.  I've done that before myself.  Just watch the feedback loop....and mute what needs muting.  ;-O
 
 
As a guitar player, I never really understood re-amping... and need the feedback off of the goofy stuff you're plugged into.  Using FX within Sonar, requires you to do such a procedure of recording your "live performance", without just slapping the same FX on your gtr track on playback....thinking it's the same "final" result, that you were hearing when playing live/recording.
 
 
EDIT....ok perfect example.  Could you have re-amped Jimi's guitar for his version of the "Star Spangled Banner"?  No...not a synth, but I'm thinking same principle here, wanted by the OP.

Your example is exactly the point. Jimi is playing his gutar, effected the way he wants, and recording same, all in real time.

Not to get off topic... But I'd like this feature for my videos, when I'm trying to show something, but manually tweaking knobs on plugins AS I'm PLAYING LIVE.  That way I'm not getting into crazy amounts of automation on playback.  If I could record my results live, that would be great.  You can't have a track in "record" and "write" at the same time, to my knowledge also.

Earwax

Yes, I really would love to see real time recording for softsynths and effects implemented in Sonar. Probably not going to happen anytime soon, though, if ever. Oh well..............

Not if you don't vote for it ;)
http://forum.cakewalk.com...ecording-m3099239.aspx

mudgel
It's not hard to do, that is to record your VSTi in real time, you just have to be prepared to deal with the issues that it brings up. Send your monitor source out of your audio device and loop it back onto another track making sure that that track is out of your monitor path. Voila, you have a live recoding of your performance. If you are going to add further material you'll have to nudge the recorded VSTi audio tracks.

No one is saying what you describe hasn't been tried. Those who like to record "live" have been doing it (or some variant) for years. A substantially more direct method is what is being suggested. Some get the concept, and some don't. Some prefer the methodology, and some don't. I'm okay with that. People work differently. But to suggest (and I'm not saying you are), that one method is superior to the other, or that people who prefer one method over the other are somehow brain-damaged, is ludicrous. 

mixmkr
Not to get off topic... But I'd like this feature for my videos, when I'm trying to show something, but manually tweaking knobs on plugins AS I'm PLAYING LIVE.  That way I'm not getting into crazy amounts of automation on playback.  If I could record my results live, that would be great.  You can't have a track in "record" and "write" at the same time, to my knowledge also.

Actually, this isn't off topic at all! That's a HUGE part of "live" playing and recording!
 

CakeAlexS

Earwax
Yes, I really would love to see real time recording for softsynths and effects implemented in Sonar. Probably not going to happen anytime soon, though, if ever. Oh well..............

Not if you don't vote for it ;)
http://forum.cakewalk.com...ecording-m3099239.aspx

Thanks Alex!

Earwax
Your example is exactly the point. Jimi is playing his gutar, effected the way he wants, and recording same, all in real time.

Hm.

"Once it was in the can, then you'd start mucking with it.... For the various effects and things..." (Chas Chandler on recording Jimi Hendrix).

Recording Jimi Hendrix was not a simple process either in the studio or live. Even live recordings would be post-processed in the studio prior to release if for no other reason than to sort out the mix, get things to the right length to fit on a side on a LP and to master for the requirements of vinyl.

As for recording soft synth's audio output rather than recording the MIDI then bouncing/freezing the synth I really don't see the issue unless you are dealing with a synth that has functions that can't be MIDI controlled.

If a synth (or e.g. Sonar's step sequencer) has a randomising factor, then whether that first take is going to be the best is a matter of luck in any case. My approach is to do multiple bounces of the part to audio then pick between them and even comp the best bits together.

Other than that, when you play a software (or hardware) synth using a MIDI controller the synth is responding to the MIDI. The synth has no way to tell if the MIDI data is being generated as part of a "live" performance or sent after the fact from a sequencer or Sonar MIDI track..